Method and apparatus for differential quenching



March 24, 1959 J. GOGAN,

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DIFFERENTIAL QUENCHING Filed March 7, 1957 s sheets-sheet 1 lllll.

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INVENTOR. JbSEP/l Goa/9N Arromvays 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. GOGAN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DIFFERENTIAL QUENCHING lr: rlllll e ,1 I HH HHIHP i -w if U--- P March 24, 1959 Filed March 7, 1957 1NVENTOR.; JOSEPH 606a.

,c Arrae ys III! March 24, 1959 J. GOGAN 2,879,192

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DIFFERENTIAL QUENCHING Filed March 7, 1957 :5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Arr-021v United METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DIFFERENTIAL QUENCHING This invention relates to quench treatment of metal members, and more particularly, to a novel method and apparatus for carrying out a desired quenching operation.

In the quench hardening of certain metal articles, it is often desirable that one portion of the article be hardened to a lesser extent than another portion. For example, in the case of an axle shaft having a bolt flange thereon, it may be desirable that the metal of the flange, and particularly the metal at the junction of the flange and shaft portions, be hardened to a lesser extent so as to avoid brittleness at this point.

As one of its objects, the present invention therefore provides a novel method and apparatus for quench hardening in which one portion of a heated metal article to be submerged in a body of quenching liquid, is shielded from contact with the liquid.

Another object is to provide a novel method and apparatus for this purpose in which one portion of a heated metal article to be quench hardened is subjected to the cooling action of a gaseous medium directed thereagainst.

A further object is to provide a novel method and ap paratus in which one portion of a heated metal article to be quench hardened, is subjected to a gaseous cooling medium prior to the article being submerged in a body of quenching liquid, and in which such one portion of the article is also shielded from contact with the liquid.

Still another object is to provide novel quenching apparatus embodying housing means adapted to enclose a portion of heated metal article for shielding such one portion from contact with a quenching liquid.

Yet another object is to provide novel quencing apparatus of this character in which delivery means in the housing means directs a flow of cooling air against such one portion of the article.

As another object, this invention provides novel quenching apparatus in which the housing means for shielding such one portion of the heated article has a drain passage leading therefrom, and in which automatic valve means controls such drain passage.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a novel quenching machine having cooperating relatively movable platens between which the heated article is clampingly held, and in which the housing means for shielding such one portion of the article comprises cooperating housing sections carried by the respective platens.

Additionally, this invention provides a quenching machine of the character just above mentioned having novel work support means in cooperating relation to the platens, and support means which facilitates the movement of the workpiece into proper position between the platens, as well as the removal of the workpiece after the quenching operation.

The invention can be further briefly summarized as consisting in certain novel combinations and arrange- Patent fit 2,879,192 Patented Mar. 24, 1959 ments of parts hereinafter described and particularly set out in the claims hereof.

In the accompanying sheets of drawings:

Fig. 1 is a partial front elevation of a quenching ma= chine embodying the present invention and with which the novel method can be carried out; 1

Fig. 2 is a partial rear elevation of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a partial transverse vertical section taken through the machine as indicated by section line 3--3 of Fig.1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front elevation corresponding with a portion of Fig.- l and showing the upper housing section of the work shielding means in a partially lowered position;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section on a larger scale taken at a point adjacent the housing means which shields one portion of the workpiece, the housing means being shown in closed position; and

Fig. 6 is another such fragmentary vertical section taken through the work shielding means, the view being taken on section line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

The quenching machine 10 which is here shown as representing one practical embodiment of the present invention, comprises, in general, a stationary main frame 11, a movable frame or slide 12 operable in the main frame and provided with a work supporting lower platen 13, and an upper platen 14 operable in the movable frame and cooperating with such lower platen. The platens 13 and 14 are adapted to receive therebetween a workpiece on which the quenching operation is to be performed, such as the workpiece 15, which is here represented as being an axle shaft having integrally connected shaft and flange portions 16 and 17.

The stationary main frame 11 comprises crown and base members 18 and 19 connected by a pair of laterally spaced side members or uprights 20 having guide members 20 thereon forming a vertical guideway for the movable frame 12. The movable frame 12 comprises a head 21 with which the lower platen 13 is connected by a pair of laterally spaced side members 22. The frame 12 is vertically movable in the stationary mainframe 11 by sliding movement of the side members 22 on the guide members 20 of the main frame. The sidemembers 22 of the movable frame 12, in turn, form guide members for the upper platen 14 which is vertically movable in the frame opening 23-.

As shown in the drawings, the main frame 11 is disposed in an upright position in a tank 24 which is adapted to contain a body of liquid constituting a suitable quenching fluid for carrying out a desired quenching operation on the workpiece 15. The movements of the upper platen 14 in the movable frame 12 is produced by a pair of laterally spaced double acting power cylinder devices 26 mounted on the head 21 and having piston rods 27 extending downwardly through such head and connected with the upper platen. When pressure fluid is supplied to the upper end of the cylinder devices 26, the upper platen 14 is moved downwardly to cooperate with the lower platen 13 in causing the workpiece 15 to be clamped and held between these platens. When pressure fluid is supplied to the lower end of the cylinder devices 26, the upper platen 14 is moved upwardly away from the lower platen 13 to the open position in which the upper platen is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

31. These trip members are carried by suitable bracket means 32 which is mounted on the movable platen. When the platen 14 is moved to its upper position by the cylinder devices 26, the trip member 30 engages the limit switch 28 to automatically stop such upward movement of the platen. The downward movement of the platen 14 is automatically stopped when it arrives at its closed position in relation to the lower platen 13, by the engagement of the trip member 31 with the limit switch 29.

When the workpiece 15 has been clamped between the cooperating platens 13 and 14 by the downward closing movement of the latter platen, the movable frame 12 is actuated downwardly to submerge the workpiece in the body of quenching liquid contained in the tank 24. After the quenching operation has been completed, the movable frame 12 is actuated upwardly to lift the workpiece 15 out of the body of quenching liquid, after which the movable platen 14 is opened relative to the lower platen 13 to release the workpiece for removal from the machine.

Such downward and upward movements of the movable frame 12 are produced by a pair of laterally spaced double acting power cylinder devices 33 mounted on the crown 18 of the stationary frame 11 and having piston rods 34 extending downwardly and connected with the head 21 of the movable frame. These downward and upward movements of the movable frame 12 are controlled by suitable control mechanism which includes a pair of upper and lower conventional limit switches 35 and 36 mounted on one of the side members 20 of the main frame 11. A pair of upper and lower trip members 37 and 38 cooperate with the limit switches 35 and 36 and are connected with the movable frame 12 by suitable bracket means 39.

To adapt the cooperating platens 13 and 14 for clamping the workpiece 15, these platens are provided with roller mechanism by which the workpiece can be rotatably supported therebetween. It is desirable to rotate the workpiece while it is clamped between the platens because the workpiece is in a heated state when placed in the machine, and the rotation thereof while in the clamped condition serves to straighten the workpiece or to hold the same in an axially straight condition for the quenching operation. The rotation of the workpiece also prevents portions thereof from remaining in continuous contact with the supporting means, such as would prevent proper exposure of those portions to the quenching liquid.

The roller means for clampingly supporting the workpiece 15 are here shown as comprising pairs of lower rollers 41 and 42 carried by shafts 43 and 44 which are rotatably mounted on the lower platen 13 and are driven by gearing or other suitable driving mechanism (not shown). The pairs of supporting rollers 41 and 42 are spaced apart transversely of the platen 13, a distance such that the workpiece 15 will be rotatably supported in the bight 45 formed by each pair of these rollers.

The rollers 46 of the upper platen 14 are clamping rollers which engage the workpiece 15 and clampingly hold the same against the lower supporting rollers 41 and 42. The clamping rollers 46 are mounted on the platen 14 by means of brackets 47 which have limited vertical movement relative to this platen. The connections between brackets 47 and the platen 14, include suitable compression springs (not shown) which urge the brackets 47 downwardly relative to the platen 14 and supply the clamping pressure with which the rollers 46 engage the workpiece 15 for holding the latter against the supporting rollers 41 and 42.

The quenching machine 10 is provided with novel work supporting means tofacilitate the insertion of the workpiece into the machine and the positioning thereof on the supporting rollers 41 and 42. This novel work supporting means comprises a pair of hanger rods 48 and 49 which are connected with the underside of the movable platen 14 in depending relation thereto and substantially L-shaped brackets 50 connected with these hanger rods and adapted to receive the workpiece 15 thereon, as shown in the drawings. When the platen 14 is in its open position, the brackets 50 are in a relatively elevated location which makes the placing of the workpiece 15 in the machine a much easier operation than if the attendant were required to reach downwardly into the machine to place the workpiece on the supporting rollers 41 and 42.

This novel work supporting means also includes guide bars 51 and 52 which are swingably mounted at an intermediate point thereof on pivot members 53 which connect these guide bars with suitable supporting brackets 54 provided on the lower platen 13. The brackets 50 of the hanger rods 48 and 49 are provided with hook elements 55 on their horizontally extending arms and which hook elements receive and support the inner ends of the guide bars 51 and 52. The guide bars 51 and 52 normally occupy a position corresponding with that shown in Fig. 3, in which these bars slope inwardly and downwardly to ward the brackets 50 and their inner ends are engaged with and supported by the hook elements 55.

When one of the workpieces 15 is to be loaded into the machine 10, it is placed on the guide bars 51 and 52 at a point just inwardly of the pivots 53 and is released by the operator, whereupon the workpiece will roll down the incline of the guide bars onto the supporting brackets 50. When the platen 14 is moved downwardly to its closed position relative to the platen 13, the brackets 50 lower the workpiece 15 into the bight of the paired supporting rollers 41 and 42, after which the workpiece is clampingly engaged by the clamping rollers 46.

When the platen 14 is moved upwardly to its open position following the quenching operation, the brackets engage the workpiece 15 and lift the same from the supporting rollers 41 and 42. When the movable platen 14 arrives at its upper position, the workpiece will have been returned to substantially the elevation shown in Fig. 3, whereupon it can be readily removed from the machine by being rolled off the brackets 50 onto the guide bars 51 and 52. In thus transferring the workpiece 15 from the brackets 50 onto the guide bars 51 and 52, the operator need not reach into the machine with his arms, but can apply the necessary pulling force to the workpiece by a hook or other suitable tool.

When the outward rolling movement of the workpiece 15 along the guide bars 51 and 52 carries the workpiece to a point just outwardly of the pivots 53, the guide bars will be swung by the weight of the workpiece to a position in which they slope outwardly and downwardly away from the brackets 50 and direct the workpiece onto a conveyor or other suitable receiving means. The guide bars 51 and 52 are preferably of a length to discharge the workpiece 15 outwardly over the top rim 56 of the tank 24 and are also preferably counterbalanced, such that after the discharge of the workpiece therefrom, they will return to-their initial or normal position in engagement with and sloping toward the brackets 50, as shown in Fig. 3.

In accordance with another important feature of this invention, a portion of the workpiece 15, in this case the flange 17 thereof, is shielded from contact with the quenching liquid during the quenching operation, or at least during the initial or early portion of such operation. In accordance with a further important feature of the invention, the portion of the workpiece which is thus shielded from contact with the quenching liquid is subjected to the cooling action of a gaseous cooling medium directed thereagainst, prior to the workpiece being submerged in the quenching liquid. The means for thus shielding the flange portion 17 of the workpiece from contact with the quenching liquid and the means for cooling such shielded portion by gaseous medium, will be described next.

The shielding means is here shown as comprising a housing means 58 formed by cooperating upper and lower housing Sections 59 and 60. The lower housing section 60 is suitably mounted on the lower platen 13 and is open at the top thereof such that the flange portion 17 can be lowered into this housing section. The side wall 61 of the lower housing section 60 is provided with a slot 62 of suitable depth to receive the shaft portion 16 when the workpiece is in its clamped position between the lower and upper platens 13 and 14. The edge of the slot 62 is defined by a suitable flexible sealing member or packing 63 which is engaged by the shaft portion 16 of the workpiece and is effective in forming a seal around the portion of the workpiece engaged thereby.

The upper housing section 59 is a box-like member which is open on the underside thereof and which cooperates with and forms a cover for the lower housing section 60. In its closed position, the upper housing section 59 seats against the lower housing section 60 and is maintained in an alignment therewith by means of a pair of guide lugs 64 provided on the lower housing section. The upper housing section 59 carries a depending tongue or shutter member 65 as a downward extension of the side wall 66 and which enters and closes the slot 62 of the lower housing section 69 when the housing sec tions are in their closed condition, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

The shutter member 65 is also provided with a suitable flexible sealing member or packing 67 at the edge thereof which cooperates with the packing 63 and establishes a substantially fluid-tight seal around the portion of the shaft 16 engaged thereby. The shutter member 65 is suitably mounted on the side wall 66 for vertical sliding movement relative thereto and is normally held in a downwardly extended relation to such wall by a compression spring 68.

The upper housing section 59 is supported by the movable upper platen 14 and is preferably connected with this platen by means providing for vertical movement relative thereto. For this purpose, the upper housing section is carried by a piston rod 69 extending downwardly from a double acting power cylinder device 70 mounted on orin the upper platen 14. Guide rods 71 connected with the housing section 59 and slidable' in openings of an abutment plate 72 carried by the platen 14, guide this housing section during movements thereof relative to the platen and maintain this housing section in aligned relation with the lower housing section 60.

The initial closing movement of the upper housing section 59' is produced by the cylinder device 70 and its final closing movement is produced by the downward actuation of the platen 14. Likewise, the initial opening movement of the upper housing section 59 is produced by the upward actuation of the platen 14 and its final opening movement is produced by the power cylinder device 70.

Compression springs 71 are provided on the guide rods 71 between the upper housing section 59 and the abutment plate 72 and are subjected to compression by the downward movement of the upper platen 14 after the upper housing section has engaged the lower housing section 69. These springs serve to maintain the housing sections in tightly engaged relation during the downward movement of the movable frame 12 which submerges the workpiece in the quenching liquid.

The functioning of the control mechanism of the quenching machine lit which causes pressure fluid to be supplied to the power cylinder devices 26 for moving the upper platen 14 downwardly to its closed position, also causes pressure fluid to be supplied to the power cylinder device 70 for moving the upper housing section 59 downwardly relative to this platen. This downward movement of the upper housing section 59 by the cylinder device-'70 occurs rapidly and is preferably accomplished by supplying compressed air to the power cylinder device 70, such that the upper housing section will,

.have been shifted downwardly relative to the platen-14 before the downward movement of this platen causes this housing section to engage and close the lower housing section. V

in other words, the actuation of the power cylinder device 76 which occurs at or just prior to the downward actuation of the platen 14, causes an initial downward movement of the upper housing section 59 through a portion of its closing stroke and to a position in which it partially surrounds the flange portion 17 of the workpiece, as shown in Fig. 4. This provision for movement of the upper housing section 59 relative to the platen 14, permits opening of the housing means 58 to an extent such that the flange portion 17 of the workpiece can be readily moved into proper position in the machine without interference with this upper housing section,- and also insures a positioning of the upper housing section 59 at an elevation such that a complete closing of the housing means 58 will be obtained during the downward movement of the platen 14. i

The above-mentioned cooling of the flange portion 17 of the workpiece by a gaseous cooling medium is accomplished by providing the housing means 58 with delivery means for directing a suitable gaseous cooling medium, such as compressed air, against such flange portion. This delivery means is here shown as comprising a pair of jet members or manifolds 73 and 74 located in the lower housing section 60 and connected with the latter so as to be supported in a spaced apart relation, as shown in Fig.5, for receiving the flange portion 17 therebetween.

The manifolds 73 and 74 are provided on the adjacent sides thereof with nozzle openings 73 and 74 for discharging streams of cooling air against opposite sides of the flange portion 17. As shown in Fig. 6, the nozzle openings 73 and 74 of the manifolds 73 and 74 are disposed in a substantially U-shaped arrangement such that the streams of air delivered therefrom will impinge against and cool all portions of the flange 17 while the latter is being rotated in the housing means 58 by the driven rollers 41 and 42-.

The compressed air, or other suitable cooling medium, being supplied to the manifolds 73 and 74 is delivered thereto through flexible conduits 75 and 76. The cooling air is obtained from an available supply pipe 77, and the flow of air to the manifolds through the flexible conduits 75 and 76 is controlled by a suitable solenoid valve de' vice 78 mounted on the main frame 11. The solenoid valve device 78 is of the kind which includes a valve memberhaving a normally closed position and which valve member is movable to an open position when the valve device is electrically energized.

Energization of the solenoid valve device 78 is produced bythe closing of a switch device 79 which is adapted to be actuated by a trip member 80. This trip member is connected with the movable platen 14 by the bracket means 32, such that when the actuation of the cylinder device 76) and the downward movement of this platen have substantially completed the closing of the housing means 58, the solenoid valve device 78 will be energized to cause cooling air to be supplied through the conduits 75 and 76.

The solenoid valve device '78 is also of the kind embodying a timing means which causes closing of the valve member after the lapse of a predetermined time interval. This automatic closing of the solenoid valve device 78 discontinues the supply of cooling air through the flexible conduits 75 and 76. The trip member 80 is of the hinged tumbler type which is effective during the downward stroke of the platen 14 to actuate the limit switch 79, but has an idle movement past the limit switch during the upward or return stroke of the platen.

As-another feature of the present invention, the housing means 58 is provided with automatically operating drain valve means 81 for removing liquid from" this housing means after the completion of each quenching operation. This drain valve means comprises a valve housing" 82 sprains having a valve chamber 83 connected with the chamber of the housing means 58 by a drain passage 84. The valve housing 82 is provided with a valve seat 85 between the drain passage 84 and a drain outlet 86 and with which seat a ball-shaped valve element 87 cooperates. The ball element 87 is normally held in an open position by a pin 88 actuated by a compression spring 88 such that free drainage of liquod from the housing means 58 can take place when the housing section 59 is in its open position.

It is desirableto have the ball element 87 in its closed position on the seat 85 when the housing section 59 is in its closed position, so as to prevent quenching liquid from entering the housing means through the drain passage 84 when the workpiece is moved to its submerged position. For this purpose, the upper housing section 59 is provided with an upper valve actuating plunger 89 which is engageable with a lower plunger 90 extending into the valve chamber 83. During the downward closing movement of the housing section 59, the actuating plunger 89 engages the lower plunger 90 which, in turn, moves the ball element 87 into engagement with the valve seat 85.

The upper plunger 89 is slidable in a bracket 91 of the housing section 59, but is normally held in a fully extended condition by means of a compression spring 92. A similar compression spring 93 disposed around the lower valve stem 90, exerts a lifting force on the latter such that when the upper plunger 89 is disengaged from the lower plunger, the spring 93 will lift the lower plunger and permit the ball element 87 to be moved to its open position by the pin 88.

To assist in locating the workpiece in the machine 10 with the flange 17 in a position to be received in the housing means 58, the movable platen 14 is provided with an end stop 94 against which the end of the shaft 16 is abutted when the workpiece is placed in the machine.

The motive fluid for the cylinder devices 26 and 33 can be any suitable pressure fluid, preferably a hydraulic pressure fluid supplied by suitable pump mechanism (not shown). The pressure fluid supply means for these cylinder devices and the driving means for the roller shafts 43 and 44 are controlled by suitable control means located in the control box 95 and supplementing the limit switches 28, 29, 35 and 36.

From the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings, it will now be readily understood that the present invention provides a novel quenching apparatus and method in which one portion of a heated workpiece is shielded by a hollow shielding means to prevent contact of such one portion with a quenching liquid during movement of the workpiece toward a submerged position in a body of the quenching liquid. It will also be seen that the present invention provides a novel quenching apparatus and method in which one portion of a heated workpiece is subjected to a cooling flow of a gaseous cooling medium prior to the application of a quenching liquid to the workpiece. Additionally, it will now be understood that the present invention also provides novel quenching mechanism in which automatic valve means controls the drainage of liquid from the hollow shielding means after each quenching cycle. It will, likewise, be understood that this quenching machine also includes novel work supporting means which greatly facilitates the insertion of the heated workpiece into the machine and the removal of the treated workpiece therefrom.

Although the novel quenching apparatus and method of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein to a somewhat detailed extent, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not to be regarded as being limited correspondingly in scope, but includes all changes and modifications coming within the terms of the claims hereof.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. The method of quenching which comprises, moving a heated workpiece to a wholly submerged position in a body of liquid, shielding one portion of said workpiece from contact with said liquid by maintaining a void space around said one portion during entry of said workpiece into said liquid, and cooling said one portion by discharging an air flow thereagainst and from within the void space.

2. In quenching apparatus, a tank adapted to contain quenching liquid, a pair of relatively movable platens adapted to receive a heated workpiece and having a closed position supporting the workpiece therebetween with one portion of the workpiece relatively exposed, a frame supporting said platens and being movable to advance the platens into said tank for submerging said workpiece in said liquid, housing members connected with said platens and being relatively movable by the platens from an open condition to a closed condition for defining a housing means in substantially surrounding relation to another portion of the workpiece for shielding such other portion from contact with said liquid, said housing means being movable into said liquid and having a passage in the lower portion thereof and communicating with the interior thereof, valve means controlling said passage, and automatic valve actuating means responsive to the relative movement between said housing members and comprising means for actuating said valve means to maintain said passage closed while said housing members are in said closed condition and to maintain said passage open while said housing members are in said open condition.

3. In quenching apparatus, a tank adapted to contain quenching liquid, a pair of relatively movable platens adapted to receive a heated workpiece and having a closed position supporting the workpiece therebetween with one portion of the workpiece relatively exposed, a frame supporting said platens and being movable to advance the platens into said tank for submerging said workpiece in said liquid, housing members connected with said platens and being relatively movable by the platens from an open condition to a closed eondition'for defining a housing means in substantially surrounding relation to another portion of the workpiece for shielding such other portion from contact with said liquid, air delivery means in said housing means adapted to discharge cooling air against said other portion of said workpiece, said housing means being movable into said liquid and having a passage in the lower portion thereof and communicating with the interior thereof, valve means controlling said passage, and automatic valve actuating means responsive to the relative movement between said housing members and comprising means for actuating said valve means to maintain said passage closed while said housing members are in said closed condition and to maintain said passage open while said housing members are in said open condition.

4. In a quenching machine, a tank adapted to contain a body of quenching liquid, a stationary frame in said tank, a movable frame guided in said stationary frame and including a lower platen, an upper platen movable in said movable frame and having a closed position relative to said lower platen, rotary support members on said platens and adapted to clampingly engage the shaft portion of a heated workpiece of the kind having shaft and flange portions for rotatably supporting the workpiece between said platens when said upper platen is in said closed position, a lower housing section on said lower platen, an upper housing section carried by said upper platen, said housing sections having a closed condition corresponding with a closed condition of said platens in which the housing sections define a housing means enclosing the flange portion of said workpiece, said workpiece being movable to a submerged position in said liquid by movement of said movable frame in said stationary frame and said housing. means being effective to shield said flange portion from contact with said liquid, and air delivery means in said housing means and adapted to direct a flow of cooling air against said flange portion.

5. A quenching machine as defined in claim 4 in which the upper'housing section is movable downwardly relative to the upper platen by power cylinder means mounted on said upper platen and operably connected with said upper housing section. I

6. In a shaft quenching press, a pair of relatively movable upper and lower platens having an open condition for receiving a heated shaft therebetween, support rollers on saidlower platen arranged to form a bight for receiving and rotatably supporting the heated shaft, rollers on the upper platen and engageable with the shaft for clamping the same against said support rollers, means for driving said support rollers for rotating said shaft while in the clamped condition, and ya work support comprising bracket means connected with the upper platen, said bracket means being located to receive a shaft thereon and to move transversely of said bight for depositing such shaft in the bight during relative closing movement between said platens and to disengage the shaft from said bight during the relative opening movement of said platens.

7. In a quenching press, a pair of relatively movable upper and lower platens having an open condition for receiving a heated workpiece and a closed condition for clamping said workpiece therebetween, a work support comprising bracket means connected with the upper platen, said bracket means being adapted to receive a workpiece thereon and deposit such workpiece on the lower platen during relative closing movement between said platens and to disengage the workpiece from said lower platen during the relative opening movement of said platens, and guide means along which said workpiece is 9 movable, said guide means being tiltable to an inclined position sloping toward said bracket means.

8. In a quenching press, a pair of relatively movable upper and lower platens having an open condition for receiving a heated workpiece and a closed condition for clamping said workpiece therebetween, a workholder comprising bracket means connected with the upper platen, said bracket means being adapted to receive a workpiece thereon and deposit such workpiece on the lowef platen during relative closing movement between said platens and to disengage the workpiece from said lower platen during the relative opening movement of said platens, guide means along which said workpiece is movable, and means supporting said guide means for movement from a first inclined position sloping toward said bracket means to a second inclined position sloping away from said bracket means.

9. In shaft quenching apparatus, a pair of cooperating lower and upper relatively movable carrier members, support rollers on the lower member and arranged to form a bight for receiving and rotatably supporting a heated shaft, rollers on the upper member and engageable with the shaft for clamping the same against said support rollers, means for driving said support rollers for rotating said shaft while in the clamped condition, a substantial portion of the length of the clamped shaft being in an exposed condition, means effective to cause quenching liquid to contact said exposed portion of the shaft, and a pair of housing members connected with said carrier members for relative closing movement and adapted to define a substantially closed housing means in substantially surrounding relation to another portion of said shaft for shielding such other portion from contact with said liquid when the shaft is in said clamped condition.

10. In a shaft quenching apparatus, a pair of cooperating lower and upper relatively movable carrier members, support rollers on the lower member and arranged to form a bight for receiving and rotatably supporting a heated shaft, rollers on the upper member and engageable with the shaft for clamping the same against said support rollers, means for driving said support rollers for rotating said shaft while in the clamped condition, a substantial portion of the length of the clamped shaft being in an exposed condition, means effective to cause quenching liquid to contact said exposed portion of the shaft,

' iii a pair of housing members connected with said carrier members for relative closing movement and adapted to define a substantially closed housing means in substantially surrounding relation to another portion of said shaft for shielding such other portion from contact with said liquid when the shaft is in said clamped condition, and air delivery means in said housing means for discharging cooling air against said other portion of the shaft.

11. In shaft quenching apparatus, a tank adapted to contain quenching liquid, a pair of cooperating relatively movable lower and upper platens, support rollers on .said lower platen arranged to form a bight for receiving and rotatably supporting a heated shaft, rollers on the upper platen and engageable with the shaft for clamping the same against said support rollers, means for driving said support rollers for rotating said shaft while in theclamped condition, a frame supporting said platens and being movable to advance the platens into said tank for submerging said shaft in said liquid, a substantial portion of the length of the clamped shaft being. exposed for contact with said liquid, and housing members connected with said platens and being relatively movable by the platens from an open condition to a closed condition for defining a substantially closed housing means in substantially surrounding relation to another portion of the shaft for shielding such other portion from contact with said liquid.

12. In shaft quenching apparatus, a tank adapted to contain quenching liquid, a pair of cooperating relatively movable lower and upper platens, support rollers on said lower platen arranged to form a bight for receiving and rotatably supporting a heated shaft, rollers on the upper platen and engageable with the shaft for clamping the same against said support rollers, means for driving said support rollers for rotating said shaft while in the clamped condition, a frame supporting said platens and being movable to advance the platens into said tank for submerging said shaft in said liquid, a substantial portion of the length of the clamped shaft being exposed for contact with said liquid, housing members connected with said platens and being relatively movable by the platens from an open condition to a closed condition for defining a substantially closed housing means in substantially surrounding relation to another portion of the shaft for shielding such other portion from contact with said liquid, and air delivery means in said housing means for discharging cooling air against said other portion of said shaft.

13. In shaft quenching apparatus, a tank adapted to contain quenching liquid, a pair of cooperating relatively movable lower and upper platens, support rollers on said lower platen arranged to form a bight for receiving and rotatably supporting a heated shaft, rollers on the upper platen and engageable with the shaft for clamping the same against said support rollers, means for driving said support rollers for rotating said shaft while in the clamped condition, a frame supporting said platens and being movable to advance the platens into said tank for submerging said shaft in said liquid, a substantial portion of the length of the clamped shaft being exposed for contact with said liquid, housing members connected with said platens and being relatively movable by the platens from an open condition to a closed condition for defining a substantially closed housing means in substantially surrounding relation to another portion of the shaft for shielding such other portion from contact with said liquid, said housing means being movable into said liquid and having a passage adjacent the lower end thereof and communicating with the interior thereof, valve means controlling said passage, and automatic valve actuating means responsive to the relative movement between said housing members and comprising means for actuating said valve means to maintain said passage closed while said housing members are in said closed condition and to maintain said passage open while said housing members are in said open condition.

14. In shaft quenching apparatus, a tank adapted to contain quenching liquid, a pair of cooperating relatively movable lower and upper platens, support rollers on said lower platen arranged to form a bight for receiving and rotatably supporting a heated shaft, rollers on the upper platen and engageable with the shaft for clamping the same against said support rollers, means for driving said support rollers for rotating said shaft while in the clamped condition, a frame supporting said platens and being movable to advance the platens into said tank for submerging said shaft in said liquid, a substantial portion of the length of the clamped shaft being exposed for contact with said liquid, housing members connected with said platens and being relatively movable by the platens from an open condition to a closed condition for defining a substantially closed housing means in substantially surrounding relation to another portion of the shaft for shielding such other portion from contact with said liquid,

air delivery means in said housing means for discharging cooling air against said other portion of said shaft, said housing means being movable into said liquid and having a passage adjacentthe lower end thereof and communicating with the interior thereof, valve means controlling said passage, and automatic valve actuating meansre- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,811,203 Laughlin June 23,1931 2,178,281 Judge Oct. 31, 1939 2,215,724 Judge Sept. 24, 1940 2,295,272 Somes Sept. 8, 1942 Wishart Dec. 25, 1950 

1. THE METHOD OF QUENCHING WHICH COMPRISES MOVING A HEATED WORKPIECE TO A WHOLLY SUBMERGED POSITION IN A BODY OF LIQUID, SHIELDING ONE PORTION OF SAID WORKPIECE FROM CONTACT WITH SAID LIQUID BY MAINTAINING A VOID SPACE AROUND SAID ONE PORTION DURING ENTRY OF SAID WORKPIECE INTO SAID LIQUID, AND COOLING SAID ONE PORTION BY DISCHARGING AN AIR FLOW THEREAGAINST AND FROM WITHIN THE VOID SPACE.
 2. IN QUENCHING APPARATUS, A TANK ADAPTED TO CONTAIN QUENCHING LIQUID, A PAIR OF RELATIVELY MOVABLE PLATENS ADAPTED TO RECEIVING A HEATED WORKPIECE AND HAVING A CLOSED POSITION SUPPORTING THE WORKPIECE THEREBETWEEN WITH ONE PORTION OF THE WORKPIECE RELATIVELY EXPOSED, A FRAME SUPPORTING SAID PLATENS AND BEING MOVABLE TO ADVANCE THE PLATENS INTO SAID TANK FOR SUBMERGING SAID WORKPIECE IN SAID LIQUID, HOUSING MEMBERS CONNECTED WITH SAID PLATENS AND BEING RELATIVELY MOVABLE BY THE PLATENS FROM AN OPEN CONDITION TO A CLOSED CONDITION FOR DEFINING A HOUSING MEANS IN SUBSTANTIALLY SURROUNDING RELATION TO ANOTHER PORTION OF THE WORKPIECE FOR SHIELDING SUCH OTHER PORTION FROM CONTACT WITH SAID LIQUID, SAID HOUSING MEANS BEING MOVABLE INTO SAID LIQUID AND HAVING A PASSAGE IN THE LOWER PORTION THEREOF AND COMMUNICATING WITH THE INTERIOR THEREOF, VALVE MEANS CONTROLLING SAID PASSAGE, AND AUTOMATIC VALVE ACTURATING MEANS RESPONSIVE OF THE RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID HOUSING MEMBERS AND COMPRISING MEANS FOR ACTURATING SAID VALVE MEANS TO MAINTAIN SAID PASSAGE CLOSED WHILE SAID HOUSING MEMBERS ARE IN SAID CLOSED CONDITION AND TO MAINTAIN SAID PASSAGE OPEN WHILE SAID HOUSING MEMBERS ARE IN SAID OPEN CONDITION. 